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Germany Temporarily Halts Resettlement of UN Refugees

Laundry hangs outside containers used for housing refugees at the former Berlin-Tempelhof airport, in Berlin, Germany, 01 April 2025. EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
Laundry hangs outside containers used for housing refugees at the former Berlin-Tempelhof airport, in Berlin, Germany, 01 April 2025. EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
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Germany Temporarily Halts Resettlement of UN Refugees

Laundry hangs outside containers used for housing refugees at the former Berlin-Tempelhof airport, in Berlin, Germany, 01 April 2025. EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
Laundry hangs outside containers used for housing refugees at the former Berlin-Tempelhof airport, in Berlin, Germany, 01 April 2025. EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Germany has temporarily suspended any further admission of refugees via a UN resettlement program, the dpa news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the interior ministry and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
The ministry had no immediate comment on the report when contacted by Reuters and the UNHCR could not be immediately reached.
Migration has been a contentious issue in government coalition negotiations between Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats.
The conservatives are advocating for a stricter approach to asylum seekers in response to rising support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and several violent incidents involving refugees.
So far in the coalition talks, which are yet to be sealed, the two sides struck an initial agreement to end voluntary federal admission programs for refugees wherever possible and not launch any new programs, according to a document seen by Reuters.
According to the interior ministry, Germany planned to offer up to 6,560 places as part of an EU resettlement program this year. This program typically accepts refugees of various nationalities or stateless individuals from countries including Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan and Libya.

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Vehicle Smashes Through Illinois Building, Killing 4 Young People and Injuring Others

Police block a road leading to a building where a car smashed through during an after-school program, killing several people and injuring others, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Chatham, III. (AP Photo/ John O’Connor)
Police block a road leading to a building where a car smashed through during an after-school program, killing several people and injuring others, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Chatham, III. (AP Photo/ John O’Connor)
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Vehicle Smashes Through Illinois Building, Killing 4 Young People and Injuring Others

Police block a road leading to a building where a car smashed through during an after-school program, killing several people and injuring others, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Chatham, III. (AP Photo/ John O’Connor)
Police block a road leading to a building where a car smashed through during an after-school program, killing several people and injuring others, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Chatham, III. (AP Photo/ John O’Connor)

A car smashed through a building Monday afternoon, killing four young people and injuring several others during an after-school program in a small city outside of Springfield, Illinois, police said.

Officers responded at about 3:20 p.m. to calls about a vehicle ramming through the building, fatally hitting four people before exiting the other side, Chatham Police Department Deputy Chief Scott Tarter said.

Those killed were between the ages of 4 and 18, Illinois State Police said in an emailed statement. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon identified the victims as “female students,” saying their identities will be released after family members are notified. Several other people were hurt and taken to hospitals, reported The Associated Press.

It wasn’t immediately known what led up to the crash or whether it was intentional.

Monday's crash is the latest instance of people driving vehicles into groups of people across the globe. Only two days earlier, a car plowed through a crowded street during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, killing 11.

The Illinois driver, who was uninjured, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, Tarter said. Police haven't said if the driver was arrested or taken into custody.

“I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure.”

He said his office was monitoring the situation and was ready to lend support.

The struck building and facilities house Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, which holds after-school programs and summer camps, according to its website.

As evening fell, police cars with lights flashing still blocked streets leading to the building. On its Facebook account, the Chatham Police Department asked for prayers.

“A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us,” the message ended.

By Monday night, some members of the community and beyond had changed their Facebook profile photos to an image of a red ribbon and the words “Chatham Strong.”